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Watch your child perform in his first school function -- for a price
I can't wait to see my 4-year-old son sing in his first-ever school function on Friday. It's going to be great.
It darned well better be, since I'm paying $45 for the privilege.
In fact, the ticket price for this spring extravaganza is so steep, that just one of us is going. In our household, we really can't justify spending nearly $100 to watch our son sing a couple songs along with a bunch of other preschoolers. I'll be bringing the video camera.
Frankly, I find it ridiculous. The price tag gets you in the door and entitles you to lunch. What if you just want to watch your kid sing, you're not interested in eating lunch and you're willing to pay a reduced fee, say half-price? No dice. From what I understand, they can't do that because then a lot of parents might want to do the same.
You know, I understand the function also serves as a fundraiser, but I'm also not too keen on the fact that at the beginning of the year, they enthusiastically tell you about how cute it will be to watch your little one in the spring program. Months later, they drop the price on you. So, unless you want to be known as the cheapskate or the parent who wasn't there to see their child perform, you'd better pony up.
Evan had better not get stage fright. I might have to demand a refund.
Gretchen Day-Bryant has a son in high school and a daughter in middle school. She’s lived to tell about the struggles of juggling little kids and work...
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Anne Vasquez is the Online Editor in charge of overseeing SunSentinel.com. She is the mother of a 5-year-old boy and a newborn daughter.
Georgia East is the parent of a five-year-old girl, who came into the world weighing 1 pound, 13 ounces...
Brittany Wallman is the mother of Creed, 13, and Lily, 6, and is married...
Chris Tiedje is the Social Media Coordinator, and father of two boys and a girl all under the age of seven.
Comments
Nancy: That is outrageous! It reminds me of your story about the holiday gift collection for the teachers. Your pre-school needs to get a better grip on reality. And the economy!
Posted by: Lois | March 3, 2008 2:37 PM
I can't believe they charge $45 each. That's just unbelievable. Are other parents outraged or is this considered routine at this school?
Posted by: another mom | March 3, 2008 4:06 PM
Apparently this is considered routine. I sure hope other parents are outraged, but I haven't had a chance to talk to others.
Posted by: Nancy | March 3, 2008 7:57 PM
That is exhorbitant. Definitely worth mentioning loudly to the director and/or owner of the school. Is this not a private preschool? Their funds should mainly be raised by tuition fees.
Posted by: Amy | March 4, 2008 7:17 AM
How sad that a parent may have to miss their child sing because the can't afford the price of admission. If this were a school play, I can see $5 - 10, maybe, but $45 is just absurd. I would make a stink to the school administration.
Posted by: DadofTwo | March 4, 2008 8:05 AM
I agree that $45 is a ton of money to see your child perform. On the other hand previous comments are probably inaccurate in stating that some people at this school can not afford this and probably wouldn't be able to attend. I can't think of a situation where I have really every heard of paying that much money, so I am thinking that I have never heard of something like this because my children and I could not afford such a school. Nancy's school must be very affluent to even consider that a parent would pay this.
Nancy, think of all the wonderful things that you love about your child's school and why you choose it over other schools. I am sure those reasons come at a price. There are lots of daycares/preschools that don't even have music programs. It might seem unfair but sometimes the best comes at a price. Just smile as your son performs and think about all the wonderful opportunites you're able to give him.
Posted by: beth | March 4, 2008 8:29 PM